Letter-file or the like.



W. A. COOKE, JR. LETTER FILE OR THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED MARL17, 100s.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

2 sums-sum 1.

INVENTOR WITNESSES: 5 ml M %n/ THE NORR1C PEfEhS co PHOfO-LITNO WAaIIINIi/ON. o C.

W. A. 000KB, JR. LETTER FILE OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION IILED MAR. 17, 1908. 1,107,657 Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR THE NORRIS I-hlzn'b LU" PHOTO-LIIHO. WASHINGTON. D c,

WILLIAM A. COOKE, JR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LETTERFILE OR THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 17', 1903.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

Serial No. 421,676.

To all "tr/mm it may concern:

lie it known that I, lViLLi'aar A. Cooun, J12, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Letterl iles or the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention. relates to letter files, temporary binders and other similar devices of the type in which prongs or like tiling nuanbers are provided for receiving the papers tiled. In this type of binder some means .t'or perforating the papers is practically necessary. Such means having usually tal-ren the form of separate perforators adapted to out a single hole in the paper, the eye being used as a guide to secure the proper distance between the several holes (an-responding to the number of prongs. Such perforating or puncturing devices have the disadvantage of being more or less expensive, and the still greater disadvantage of being separate from the tiles so that they arenot always at hand when required. They have i311, additional diszulvzmtage that it is dillicult to judge the distance between the i 'irongs so that papers are often punctured or perforatedv inacmiratel y. ,Vhile it is possible with very stiff prongs to force a single sheet of paper over them and to thus avoid the necessity of perforating the papers prior to filing, this method is apt to tea the paper, and is open to the further objection that as the ends of the prongs are usually a considerable distance above the tile it is difficult to puncture the papers at the proper points so that they will lie evenly in the file. This method of plunrturinglj the papers is yn'actically impossible in the ease of binders of the type set forth in patents to Dow for instance, Nos. 84:9,774 and 814M216, wherein the prongs are adapted to be bent over to retain the papers in place, and to be bent upwardly to receive ffresh papers. Such prrmgs can rarely be bent so :weuratcly that their upper 1 r pointial ends are the same distance apart as their bases so that if the paper to he liled could be punctured directly by the prongs, the posi tions of the holes would. vary from that which they should occupy when the paper 1 is is moved. down to the bases of the prongs. l ter-cover, with easily bendable prongs of this type sullieient stillness is not afforded to force down the papers over the ends of the prongs.

According to my invention I provide a lile or other similar device (which I will hereinafter refer to as a file) which has framed in it or carries with it a device which in e'll'ect constitutes a puncturing means for the papers. Such puneturingdevice according to my invention is preferably adapted to :form in the paper to he filed a number of holes which correspond to the number of prongs contained in the binder, such holes being spaced apart a distance corresponding to that between the prongs. The puncturing means is preferably so located that some part of the file or cover will serve as an indicating means whereby the paper to be filed may be so adjusted that it will. occupy the proper position within the file after being placed on the prongs.

lr'ly invention in its broadest form coinprises a file having an aperture or apertures in its cover or other suitable part over which the paper may he placed, and through which and the paper a pencil, pen holder or other suitable device may be passed to perfrn'ate the paper. It practically essential that such perforations shall be so located with relation to the other parts of the binder that there shall be suilieient room for the pencil to extend a considerable distance through the periforatimis. Otherwise a. puncture of sullicient diameter cannot be made through the paper.

My invention also includes other -features of constructiol'i which will be hereinafter referred to.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate several forms of the invention, Figure l. is a plan view of a tile with the invention applied thereto, the file being shown as open. Fig. 2 a section of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale. the view being taken on the line in Fig. 11, and the file being shown as closed. Fig. 3 is a. detail view illustrating the method of puncturing the paper. liig. 1; is a plan view oifa modification. Fig. is a detail similar to Fig. Fig. 6 an end view of the back part of the binder. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a niodificatlon.

in the drawings I have illustrated a file of the type set forth in the patents to Dow above reierred to. wherein are provided two covers A and B having a back C which :tolded at its middle as shown at a to provide what is in eil'i'eot a hinge for the covers. Guards or flaps i) o are provided, the lower oi. which :7 carries a plurality of "flexible prongs (Z d which are designed to pass through perforations in the papers filed, and the GDP/61 of which is formed with slots 6 c which are designed to receive the prongs as the upper guard is moved into position over the rear edges of the papers. The prongs are then bent over by hand along the upper surface of the guard L (as shown at Tl, Fig. l) and clamps such as f are swung rearwardly so that they p ss over the tops of the bent prongs and hold the latter sec rely in place. lhis type of file is of very cheap construction, and has the advantage that its clamping mechanism takes up little room so that the total thickness of the binder is very little in excess of the combined thicle ncsses of the covers and the filed papers between them. This results in an important advantage in that the file requires a very small storage space when it contains few papers, and that such storage space is the practical minimum required for the bulk of papers inciosed in the file. It is practically impossible in this type of tile to pro vide a perforating mechanism without neu tralizing this important advantage. Accord ing to my invention, however, i provide this or any other type oi tile with a puncturing device, as distinguished from a perforating mechanism, which does not in any way increase the bulk of the file, which is extremely cheap and efficient, and which has the great advantage that it can never be lost or mislaid so that it is always at hand in use of the file.

Fig. 4 shows my device in its simplest form. In this figure one of the covers of the binder is provided with two holes or apertures l) D. These holes or apertures are preferably placed opposite the binding prongs (Z (Z, and are spaced apart the same distance as the bases of such prongs. In use the paper to be iiled is placed in position over the holes, and a pencil or other pointed instrument is forced through the paper and holes, providing a well defined puncture tl'irough which the prongs are capable of easily passing when the paper is filed. The holes or apertures D D not only form a guide for determining the distance between the punctures, but their edges provide a forming means adapted to coact with the pencil or other instrument so as to provide a well defined and rounded puncture which is not liable to tear. Even though the holes l) l) in. this construction are hidden by the sheet to he 1))1f012li1 3(i,tl1611 position can easily be ascertained by the linger or the user. Preferably the holes are provided with eyelets so as to prevent their enlargefrom repeated use.

The positieai of the holes D D is of imlreierably they are not only s aced apart the same distance as the prongs, are also so arranged that the sheet may dorated the pro positions departicular binder to which in the construc- J applied. toe g d 3) has a definite line of bending h rel: l to the cover A, such the letters as m in Fig. line of bending with 1 line oeing inoicat it has also a r relation to the ba C .iown at 3 in Fig. 6. iii' l'e tures l) D are located such a c 1 -i the line 02 m that when the -t 1 oratcd is brought with its edges n ar such line, tile perforations will 1 any desired part of the device, it is practitally essential that they should be so located and formed as to permit the point of a pencil or other puncturing instrun'ient to extend a considerable distance into the hole pas the sheet being perforated. Practically speaking, the pun turing instrument must he provided with a point, and taper to a larger diameter in order to obtain a satisfactory puncturing effect. This requires a rela ively extensi e n'ioveinent of the puncturing instrnnjlent as compared with the thickness of the sheet being perforated. ll hen the holes D are placed in the co vcr, the puncturinginstrument may, of course, pass out of the opposite side. If they are otherwise l cited provision will preferably be made for a like extension.

in F 4; l have also shown another arrangement oi puncturing apertures. In this case the apertures are lettered D D and are located near the edge of one of the covers. Preferably two lines 7' j are drawn outwardly from the perforations, which lines either join or extend beyond the line is. Suitable pointers are preferably arranged to indicate the positions of the perforations J D or lines in this construction the paper is placed over the perforations along 181' the top or bottom edge of the coverv the line In, and. while held in such position it is punctured by the puncturing instrument. The pointers Z indicate with suliicient clearness the positions of the perforations so that there no ditticulty in finding them with the instrument.

In Figs. 1 and 2 l have shown my invention in another term. lln these figures i provide a metal plate l bent to approximately U-ttorm, one side oi which is fastened to the cover or other part of the binder, and the other side of which is separated there; from so that the papers may be passed be-- tween the two. Both sides of the plate are perforated and the lower side g (Fig. 3) is preferably united to the cover by means of eyelets. The upper perforations D l) are preferably somewhat larger than the lower perforations so that the eyelets may pass through the former in process of attaching the plate. In use the rear edge of the sheet is slipped under the upper side it of the plate, until it contacts with the bend of the latter, and the puncturing instrument I is passed through both the sheet of pape' and the cover as shown in Fig. 3. 111 this construction the holes in the upper plate ll. serve to indicate the points at which the paper is to be punctured and serve also to guide the puncturing instrument. This construction has the important advantage that the posi' tion of the perforations is always plainly indicated. Obviously any other means for effecting this result may be used. The plate F with. its holes may be located at any do sired point upon the tile, but preferably it is so located and formed that the punctured holes are made at the proper points in the sheet, both with relation to its rear edge and its top and bottom edges to insure that the sheet shall assume a proper position within the tile. The plate I may be made of any desired material, such as metal, pasteboard, or the like, but is preferably su'lliciently flexible to enable the user to clamp the paper in. place with one hand during the puncturing operation.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a form similar to that of F 1 in which the member F is made of pasteboard or otherilexible material, the lower side of which is eyeleted to the cover and the upper side of which is adapted to fold back to the dotted line position of this figure. This permits the member 1*" to be folded along the inner side of the cover when not in use so that it is substantially only half as thick as would otherwise be the case.

Although I have shown in. detail several forms of my invention 1' do not wish to be limited thereto as various modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention. For instance, in place of the holes or apertures D D any other means may be used which will. accomplish the same result, and such means are intended to be covered by the term apertures as used in the claims. \Vhile my invention finds its chief field of usefulness with a tile oi? the type illustrated, it is nevertheless adapted tor use with other types of files.

The specific torn] oil? the invention wherein the apertures l) I) are located adjacent the inner edge oi? the cover and adjacent the guard llap, is described and. claimed in a divisional tll)l ")ll(itltl()ll, filed March 8, 1911, Serial. No. (5,123,024.

What I claim is:--

1. A binder of file for sheets of paper or the like, comprising fastening means for the sheets, a cover, apertures in said corer spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between said fastening means, and a strip of flexible n'laterial, attached to said cover and having apertures therein spaced apart a distance eorresprmding to that of the apertures in the corer, adapted to be bent over a sheet of paper and clasp the same with the apertures therein registering with those in the cover, said cover beingsubstantially fiat and unobstructed and forming a supporting surface for receiving a sheet to be punched and filed, said apertures and corer being constructed to permit the edge oi? the sheetv to lie over said apertures while its body is supported on said cover.

2. A binder or file for sheets o't paper or the like, comprising Fastening means for the sheets, a cover, apertures in said cover spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between said fastening means, and a. strip of flexible material, attached to said cover, having apertures therein spaced apart a distance corresponding to that oi. the aperture in the cover, and oi a. width such that when bent to clasp a sheet oi paper it will limit the distance said sheet lies over said aperture to approxilnatcly the distance between said :tastening means and the back oi the binder, ti apertures therein registering with those in the cover, said cover being substantially flat and unolistrucied and :t'orming a supporting surlace for receiving a sheet to be punched and tiled, said apertures and cover being constructed to permit the edge oi the sheet to lie over said apertures while its body is supported on said cover.

A binder or file For sheets of paper or the like, comprising fastening means for the sheets, a cover of fibrous material, apertures in said cover spaced apart a, distance equal to the distancebetwcen said :laslening means, and, eyelets in said apertures of a size to admit the partial insertion of the point oi a pencil therein, said cover being substantially flat and unobstrucltal and torming a supporting surface for receiving a sheet to he punched and filed, said apertures and cover being constructed to permit the edge of the sheet to lie over said apertures while its body is supported on said cover.

4:. A hinder or file for sheets of paper or.

the like comprising fastening means for the sheets, a cover, apertures in the left-hand side of said cover spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between said fastening means, and a strip of flexible material, attached also to the left-hand side of said cover and having apertures therein spaced apart a distance corresponding to that of the apertures in the cover, adapted to be bent over and clasp a sheet of paper with the apertures therein registering with those in the cover, said cover being substantially flat and unobstructed and forming a sup porting surface for receiving a sheet to be punched and filed, said apertures and cover being constructed to permit the edge of the sheet to lie over said apertures while its body is supported on said cover.

A binder or file for sheets of paper or the like, comprising fastening means, apertures in said binder spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between said fastening means, and a strip of flexible material having apertures therein spaced apart a distancc equal. to the apertures in said binder, adapted to be bent to clasp a sheet of paper over the apertures in said binder, whereby the sheet of paper may be held while having holes punched therein.

6. A binder or file for sheets of paper or the like, comprising fastening means, apertures in said binder spaced apart a distance equal to said fastening-means, and a strip of flexible material, said flexible strip being adapted to be pressed into engagement with a sheet of paper and clasp the same over the apertures in said binder and limit the extent which the sheet of paper projects over said apertures, whereby the sheet may be held while having holes punched therein and have the holes punched a regular distance from its edge.

7. A binder or file for sheets of paper or the like comprising fastening means, a1 ertures in said binder spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between said fastening means, and a strip of flexible material fold ed upon itself and having apertures therein spaced apart a distance equal to the space between the apertures in said binder, said folded flexible strip being adapted to be pressed into engagement with a sheet of paper and clasp the same over the apertures in said binder and limit the extent which the sheet of paper projects over said apertures, whereby the sheet may be held while having holes punched therein and wave the holes punched a regular distance from its edge.

8. A binder or file for sheets of paper or the like having fastening means, and adapted to pass through holes in the paper sheets,

and said binder having apertures spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between said fastening means, and a clamping member adapted to extend over the paper sheets to clamp them against the binder, said member being connected to the binder so that its free edge opens toward the major part or greater expanse of the latter whereby the paper sheets rest upon the binder when clamped, and said member having indicating provisions coinciding with the apertures of the binder whereby to guide the user in passing a pointed instrument through said paper sheets and apertures.

9. A hinder or file for sheets of paper or the like having fastening means, and adapted to pass through holes in the paper sheets, and said binder having apertures spaced apart a distance equal to the distance be tween said fastening means, and a clamping member adapted to extend over the paper sheets to clamp them against the binder, said member being connected to the binder so that its free edge opens toward the major part or greater expanse of the latter whereby the paper sheets rest upon the binder when clamped, and said member having apertures coinciding with the apertures of the binder whereby to guide the user in passing a pointed instrument through said paper sheets and apertures.

10. A file or the like, having fastening means adapted to pass through the paper at a plurality of points, and having a cover forming a support for a paper sheet to be perforated, the cover having a part provided with apertures, adapted to admit a pencil or the like to perforate the paper sheet, said apertures lying under the paper sheet when the latter is supported on the cover, and indicating means for indicating the positions of the apertures when the latter are covered by the paper sheet.

11. A file or the like, having fastening means adapted to pass through the paper at plurality of points, and having a cover forming a support for a paper sheet to be perforated, the cover having a part provided with apertures near one of the edges of the cover, adapted to admit a pencil or the like to perforate the paper sheet, said apertures lying under the paper sheet when the latter is supported on the cover, and in dicating means for indicating the positions of the apertures when the latter are covered by the paper sheet.

12. A file or the like, having fastening means adapted to pass through the paper at a plurality of points, and having a cover forming a support for a paper sheet to be perforated, the cover having a part provided with apertures near one of the edges of the cover, adapted to admit a pencil or the like to perforate the paper sheet, said apertures lying under the paper sheet when the latter is supported on the cover, and insigned my name in the presence of two subcllcatmg means provlded wlth apertures serlbing Witnesses. alined With those of the cover for indicating IL AN 7 A. F R. the posltlons of the apertures of the cover LI 1 000k J 5 When the latter are covered by the paper WVitnesses:

sheet. EUGENE V. MYERS,

In wltness whereof, I have hereunto THEODORE T. SNELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Iatents, Washington, D. G. 

